UNICEF, Benazir Income Support Programme bolster efforts for health in Pakistan

Islamabad, In a move to enhance the health and nutrition of women and children across Pakistan, UNICEF’s Country Representative Mr. Abdullah Fadil met with Mrs. Rubina Khalid, Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), at the program’s headquarters today.

According to Press Information Department, the meeting focused on fortifying the partnership between BISP and UNICEF, specifically through initiatives like the Nashonuma Programme, which targets malnutrition among women and children. Mrs. Khalid stressed the importance of increasing public awareness about these health and nutrition programs, noting, “By raising awareness of the Nashonuma Programme, we can address many issues, especially those affecting women and children. BISP and UNICEF need to collaborate closely on this front to ensure the well-being of our communities.”

Mr. Fadil lauded the Benazir Income Support Programme’s effective approach in addressing shock responsiveness, targeted assistance, and financial literacy among its beneficiaries. He emphasized the necessity of cooperative efforts to deliver practical solutions for the malnourished, particularly vulnerable women and children, and praised BISP’s targeted and financial literacy initiatives.

The discussion also included BISP Secretary Amer Ali Ahmad and DG NSER/CCT Mr. Naveed Akbar, as well as several key UNICEF representatives, such as Anteneh Girma Minas, Chief of Nutrition; Sadaf Zulfiqar, Social Policy Specialist; and Dr. Noreen Arshad, Nutrition Officer. These meetings underscored both parties’ dedication to a strategic and operational enhancement of their joint efforts.